there are many reasons for jaundice.... often just immaturity of the baby's liver...

a baby can become jaundice due to breast feeding, if the breast milk is not "in" well, and the baby is getting dehydrated from not enough milk.

Here's an article on all the diff types and treatments.

Jaundice in Healthy NewbornsA common condition in newborns, jaundice refers to the yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is produced by the normal breakdown of red blood cells.

Normally, bilirubin passes through the liver and is excreted as bile through the intestines. Jaundice occurs when bilirubin builds up faster than a newborn's liver can break it down and pass it from the body. Reasons for this include:

Newborns make more bilirubin than adults do since they have more turnover of red blood cells. A newborn baby's still-developing liver may not yet be able to remove adequate bilirubin from the blood. Too large an amount of bilirubin is reabsorbed from the intestines before the baby gets rid of it in the stool. High levels of bilirubin — usually above 25 mg — can cause deafness, cerebral palsy, or other forms of brain damage in some babies. In less common cases, jaundice may indicate the presence of another condition, such as an infection or a thyroid problem. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants should be examined for jaundice within a few days of birth.

Types of JaundiceThe most common types of jaundice are:

Physiological (normal) jaundice: occurring in most newborns, this mild jaundice is due to the immaturity of the baby's liver, which leads to a slow processing of bilirubin. It generally appears at 2 to 4 days of age and disappears by 1 to 2 weeks of age.

Jaundice of prematurity: occurs frequently in premature babies since they are even less ready to excrete bilirubin effectively. Jaundice in premature babies needs to be treated at a lower bilirubin level than in full term babies in order to avoid complications.

Breastfeeding jaundice: jaundice can occur when a breastfeeding baby is not getting enough breast milk because of difficulty with breastfeeding or because the mother's milk isn’t in yet. This is not caused by a problem with the breast milk itself, but by the baby not getting enough to drink.

Breast milk jaundice: in 1% to 2% of breastfed babies, jaundice may be caused by substances produced in their mother's breast milk that can cause the bilirubin level to rise. These can prevent the excretion of bilirubin through the intestines. It starts after the first 3 to 5 days and slowly improves over 3 to 12 weeks.

Blood group incompatibility (Rh or ABO problems): if a baby has a different blood type than the mother, the mother might produce antibodies that destroy the infant's red blood cells. This creates a sudden buildup of bilirubin in the baby's blood. Incompatibility jaundice can begin as early as the first day of life. Rh problems once caused the most severe form of jaundice, but now can be prevented with an injection of Rh immune globulin to the mother within 72 hours after delivery, which prevents her from forming antibodies that might endanger any subsequent babies.

Symptoms and DiagnosisJaundice usually appears around the second or third day of life. It begins at the head and progresses downward. A jaundiced baby's skin will usually appear yellow first on the face, followed by the chest and stomach, and finally, the legs. It can also cause the whites of an infant's eyes to appear yellow.

Since many babies are now released from the hospital at 1 or 2 days of life, it is best for the baby to be seen by a doctor within 1 to 2 days of leaving the hospital to check for jaundice. Parents should also keep an eye on their infants to detect jaundice.

If you notice your baby’s skin or eyes looking yellow you should contact your child's doctor to see if significant jaundice is present.

At the doctor's office, a small sample of your infant's blood can be tested to measure the bilirubin level. Some offices use a light meter to get an approximate measurement, and then if it is high, check a blood sample. The seriousness of the jaundice will vary based on how many hours old your child is and the presence of other medical conditions.

When to Call the DoctorYour doctor should be called immediately if:

jaundice is noted during the first 24 hours of life the jaundice is spreading or getting more intense your baby develops a fever over 100° Fahrenheit (37.8° Celsius) rectally if your child starts to look or act sick Also call the doctor right away if the color deepens, your baby is not feeding well, or if you feel your baby is sleepier than usual. It is difficult to tell how significant jaundice is just by looking at a baby, so any baby who has yellow eyes or skin should be checked by the doctor.

TreatmentsIn mild or moderate levels of jaundice, by 1 to 2 weeks of age the baby will take care of the excess bilirubin on its own. For high levels of jaundice, phototherapy — treatment with a special light that helps rid the body of the bilirubin by altering it or making it easier for your baby's liver to get rid of it — may be used.

More frequent feedings of breast milk or supplementing with formula to help infants pass the bilirubin in their stools may also be recommended. In rare cases, a blood exchange may be required to give a baby fresh blood and remove the bilirubin.

If your baby develops jaundice that seems to be from breast milk, your doctor may ask you to temporarily stop breastfeeding. During this time, you can pump your breasts so you can keep producing breast milk and you can start nursing again once the condition has cleared.

If the amount of bilirubin is high, your baby may be readmitted to the hospital for treatment. Once the bilirubin level drops and the treatment is stopped, it is unlikely that treatment for jaundice will need to be restarted.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MDDate reviewed: June 2008

Heather

A dog teaches a (kid) boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.- Robert Benchley

Still not keeping anything down. The pediatrician is coming back tomorrow at 12:00. Josh said that if she is not keeping it down by tomorrow night that is when it might get worrisome. I don't know what to do. I have been thinking all night and searching on line. I might have to butt in and tell Josh he needs to send her to Atlanta. Another thing that worries me is her mouth is blue around her lips. The nurse called it something that I can't pronounce more less even try to spell. Sorry for not so good news and me keep posting it but I don't know what else to do.

Awww, our poor little peanut will be home soon enough Missy. (((hugs))) I am sorry you aren't getting much sleep & that she is having problems. My niece was SO sick when she was little due to allergies to just about everything, although she was a little older than McKinklee. At one point they had her on liquid jello made with gatoraide. She too did fine on goats milk but it took a while for them to find anything at all she could tolerate. Remember to breathe.

There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.

madremissy wrote: Another thing that worries me is her mouth is blue around her lips. The nurse called it something that I can't pronounce more less even try to spell.

Cyanosis???"Newborns and young infants can normally have acrocyanosis, with a bluish discoloration of their lips, hands and/or feet. This is called peripheral cyanosis and usually goes away as a child's circulatory system matures."

Is she breathing on her own? Are her lungs okay? She is probably in distress, which sometimes causes breathing problems and lack of sufficient oxygen to circulate through the body.Poor little girl - she is having a rough start. Good thoughts and lots of hugs coming your way. Hang in there!

The milk is flowing. She just needed her mommas milk. she is keeping it down. Keep fingers crossed that she will continue this morning to improve. They are discharging Bristol as a patient but like Travis said it is there best interest to keeep the "cow in the barn". She will still have a room and they will feed her under the baby's name. I will update more in a little while.

The more time they let Bristol spend with her the better she is getting. So they are letting her stay in there and hold her as long a necessary. She is more content in her arms than anywhere else. Her blood work is coming back better. Still a little off. She is still a little blue around her lips. But she is making great progress. Bristol said that if they would put a cot in the nursery she would sleep in there. Here are some photos of today. Mama and I got to sit in there with her. She ate 2ozs of breast milk, burbed very well, and kept it all down.